It is not unusual for people to say that they know what a physician does, but many have still not heard about the Physician Assistant Profession. Do you know the difference between the two. If you have been wondering what the answer to that question is, here is some information that will help you out.
Doctors invest many years into the education and training it takes to become proficient in diagnosing the ills of patients, determining the appropriate treatment options, and prescribing medicine.
A Physician Assistant on the other hand if a highly skilled and trained individual who is kind of like a glorified nurse. They are not required to spend as much time during their education and training, but are given the authority to work right alongside doctors and many times in their stead treating patients and writing out prescriptions. However, they still are able to diagnose diseases and disorders, prescribe medication, and discuss treatment options with patients.
The primary difference between doctors and the Physician Assistant Profession is the level of education received in the quest for certification or licensing. Doctors typically attend medical school for 8 to 10 years. Once they are through with that they must spend some time as a resident at a hospital. The time in this setting is spend honing the skills that they have learned. At this point they are able to choose whether they wish to continue working in this type of setting, open a practice of their own or spend time doing research within the medical community.
Physician Assistants do not have to attend medical school for the same length of time and are often able to complete their training within a couple of years after getting their Bachelor's degree in nursing. Other education may be required if they desire to enter a specialized field. That means that they must work closely with a licensed physician, and the doctor carries some responsibility for the work they complete.
The requirement that they work while supervised by a licensed doctor is the main thing that sets them apart from an autonomous physician. They are given the duties of diagnosing illnesses, developing and executing treatment plans, suturing wounds, assisting during surgical procedures, examining patients, and assisting patients in other areas as well. These professionals are also allowed to assist during surgical procedures.
It is the primary care area of the medical profession in which you will find the bulk of those working as Physician Assistants. Those areas are family practice, internal medicine and pediatrics. By handing over some of the responsibility for patient care to PAs, doctors have more time to perform more important elements of their practice, and patients receive more individualized care.
Monday 26 March 2012
Monday 19 March 2012
What Do You Know About The Physician Assistant Profession
In order to have an intelligent conversation about the Physician Assistant Profession, and where it came from, one must have some basic knowledge about what it is that is involved in a Physician Assistant Career. In short, a Physician Assistant is very much the same as a medical doctor without having the autonomy but performing the same type of services for patients.
Physician Assistants practice medicine much the same way that a licensed doctor does except that they have to work under the auspices of a licensed physician. These well trained professionals are charged with duties which allow them to advise patients in their choices of healthcare, diagnose diseases, assist surgeons during procedures, evaluate the status of patients, and write medical prescriptions.
Entering the healthcare profession in the realm of a Physician Assistant Career has some benefits that should be considered. Those who wish to get started practicing medicine right away without having to wait until they have gone through the many years of training it takes may wish to become a Physician Assistant. Salary is generally in the six figure range in many cases.
Now that we have the basics out of the way, we can go on to discuss where this profession originated.
Doctors and educators began to recognize that there was a void between the number of patients needing care and those physicians available to provide that care during the 1960s. This mid-decade discovery caused them to determine that it was time to implement some changes to the healthcare field. This led to the broadening of the scope of medical care.
Dr. Eugene Stead who was part of the Duke University Medical Center of North Carolina was the first to implement a Physician Assistant class in efforts to expand available medical care for the masses. This first class was made up Navy Corpsmen who already possessed a great deal of medical training gained from the time they spent serving their country in the military during the Vietnam War. This class benefitted from the faster paced physicians training which was used during World War II.
After Dr. Stead installed his program, two others, Dr. Hu Myers of the Alderson-Broaddus College and Dr. Richard Smith of the University of Washington also stepped in to train Physician Assistants. Once these programs proved their success, the American Medical Association determined it was time to set up guidelines for the education of PAs and also implemented the certification process.
To sum it all up, Physician Assistant Careers got their start from a simple need. The efforts of a very astute doctor who saw that there should be some way to close the gap between patients needing quality healthcare and doctors who were not able to be everywhere at the same time resulted in greater numbers of competent care providers allowing more care to be provided in a much faster span of time.
Physician Assistants provide a vital service which is particularly helpful since doctors are unable to be everywhere they are needed all the time.
Physician Assistants practice medicine much the same way that a licensed doctor does except that they have to work under the auspices of a licensed physician. These well trained professionals are charged with duties which allow them to advise patients in their choices of healthcare, diagnose diseases, assist surgeons during procedures, evaluate the status of patients, and write medical prescriptions.
Entering the healthcare profession in the realm of a Physician Assistant Career has some benefits that should be considered. Those who wish to get started practicing medicine right away without having to wait until they have gone through the many years of training it takes may wish to become a Physician Assistant. Salary is generally in the six figure range in many cases.
Now that we have the basics out of the way, we can go on to discuss where this profession originated.
Doctors and educators began to recognize that there was a void between the number of patients needing care and those physicians available to provide that care during the 1960s. This mid-decade discovery caused them to determine that it was time to implement some changes to the healthcare field. This led to the broadening of the scope of medical care.
Dr. Eugene Stead who was part of the Duke University Medical Center of North Carolina was the first to implement a Physician Assistant class in efforts to expand available medical care for the masses. This first class was made up Navy Corpsmen who already possessed a great deal of medical training gained from the time they spent serving their country in the military during the Vietnam War. This class benefitted from the faster paced physicians training which was used during World War II.
After Dr. Stead installed his program, two others, Dr. Hu Myers of the Alderson-Broaddus College and Dr. Richard Smith of the University of Washington also stepped in to train Physician Assistants. Once these programs proved their success, the American Medical Association determined it was time to set up guidelines for the education of PAs and also implemented the certification process.
To sum it all up, Physician Assistant Careers got their start from a simple need. The efforts of a very astute doctor who saw that there should be some way to close the gap between patients needing quality healthcare and doctors who were not able to be everywhere at the same time resulted in greater numbers of competent care providers allowing more care to be provided in a much faster span of time.
Physician Assistants provide a vital service which is particularly helpful since doctors are unable to be everywhere they are needed all the time.
Sunday 11 March 2012
Online Physician Assistant Programs
The rising demand for more healthcare providers has encouraged more people to search for online physician assistant programs to help get the education they need to enter this field without leaving their current jobs or home. Every physician assistant program is designed to give the student more convenience while making sure they get the needed education to enter the healthcare field of their choice.
The professionals known as physician assistants are able to perform many of the same functions as a regular doctor. The primary difference is that they are not required to receive the extensive education that licensed doctors are. PAs can do just about anything that a licensed doctor can do such as giving physical exams, reviewing the medical history of patients, diagnosing illness and treating patients as well as writing required prescriptions.
They do not however, operate under the same autonomy as a doctor does in that they must be strictly supervised by an attending physician. Each state has its own laws about what physician assistants can do, but as a general rule they operate in much the same fashion as a medical doctor, and that includes in some cases helping out during surgery.
For anyone wishing to become a physician assistant they must enter a program intended for this specific training experience. With the many qualifying online physician assistant programs offered today many choose to go this route. To successfully complete this training and gain certification to practice in this field, you have to be enrolled in an accredited college level course. The accreditation for your chosen course must be approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Your period of training will culminate in you being able to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination.
If you intend to receive the education required to be able to take the PANCE some of the topics you will have to study through online physician assistant programs will be: mathematics, basics courses in science, and liberal arts. You will also be expected to cover such topics as basic medical courses like; pharmacology, human anatomy and physiology, internal medicine, biochemistry, physhology, emergency medicine, and prevention of diseases.
You will also have to spend some time in clinical practice surrounding the field of study you have chosen like; pediatrics, primary care, ob/gyn, surgery or other selected fields. You will likely be doing your clinicals on a rotating basis which will allow all students to take part.
Upon completion of your selected online physician assistant programs, you will be ready to test for your license. Some of the areas you may be working would be in private physician's clinics or offices, hospital emergency rooms or surgical suites, prisons, the military, public health clinics and so many more.
The professionals known as physician assistants are able to perform many of the same functions as a regular doctor. The primary difference is that they are not required to receive the extensive education that licensed doctors are. PAs can do just about anything that a licensed doctor can do such as giving physical exams, reviewing the medical history of patients, diagnosing illness and treating patients as well as writing required prescriptions.
They do not however, operate under the same autonomy as a doctor does in that they must be strictly supervised by an attending physician. Each state has its own laws about what physician assistants can do, but as a general rule they operate in much the same fashion as a medical doctor, and that includes in some cases helping out during surgery.
For anyone wishing to become a physician assistant they must enter a program intended for this specific training experience. With the many qualifying online physician assistant programs offered today many choose to go this route. To successfully complete this training and gain certification to practice in this field, you have to be enrolled in an accredited college level course. The accreditation for your chosen course must be approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Your period of training will culminate in you being able to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination.
If you intend to receive the education required to be able to take the PANCE some of the topics you will have to study through online physician assistant programs will be: mathematics, basics courses in science, and liberal arts. You will also be expected to cover such topics as basic medical courses like; pharmacology, human anatomy and physiology, internal medicine, biochemistry, physhology, emergency medicine, and prevention of diseases.
You will also have to spend some time in clinical practice surrounding the field of study you have chosen like; pediatrics, primary care, ob/gyn, surgery or other selected fields. You will likely be doing your clinicals on a rotating basis which will allow all students to take part.
Upon completion of your selected online physician assistant programs, you will be ready to test for your license. Some of the areas you may be working would be in private physician's clinics or offices, hospital emergency rooms or surgical suites, prisons, the military, public health clinics and so many more.
Monday 5 March 2012
You Must Know This About Becoming A Physician Assistant
A great many people today are considering becoming a physician assistant. If that sounds like you, it's time to get more information about what you need to do to embark upon this career. That means that you should get as much information as you can to better understand what it requires for you to meet your goals.
By following the steps below you will be well on your way to entering a very rewarding career field where you will be helping to meet the growing needs of the healthcare system as we know it today.
First Step
The first thing you will need to know is how to gain admission into a physician assistant training program. There are some prerequisites that you will have to complete first and that is generally a four year course of study where you have gained your Bachelor's degree with 8 hours of human anatomy and physiology. While there are many schools that can give you the educational foundation you need you should take care to find out which ones are accepted by the physician assistant program you wish to attend. Accreditation is important so be sure that you do not waste your time.
Step Two
If you are truly serious in your quest at becoming a physician assistant you should learn everything you can about what is involved with this burgeoning career option. One of the prerequisites to getting into a quality program is that you shadow a number of already working physician assistants that are willing to let you see what they do during their typical working days. Programs require from 50 to 200 hours in such activities.
Step Three
You will also have to get some references from professionals who know you and are willing to tell the physician assistant program what your qualifications are for entering their program. These references should come from medical professionals such as other physician assistant practitioners or a medical doctor. You can also ask one of your professors to write a recommendation for you.
Fourth Step
The GRE is another thing that you should learn about because you will have to be able to pass it. You should be studying at least one of the types of questions every day that will appear on this test. Likewise you will want to learn the vocabulary that is used in the profession you will become part of.
Step Five
One more thing you will have to learn about becoming a physician assistant is that you should get your application in early. You will find that you will be rewarded for doing this with lower fees as well as getting to enter the interviewing process earlier. Turning in your CASPA essay will also reap some rewards.
Sixth Step
Get serious about preparations for the interview. Figure out what questions you are going to be asked and determine what your answers will be. One of them will likely be what led you to want to become a physician assistant as well as why you want to be part of the program they offer.
Step Seven
The interview is important so be sure to dress appropriately for the situation. Conservative attire is always best.
By following the steps below you will be well on your way to entering a very rewarding career field where you will be helping to meet the growing needs of the healthcare system as we know it today.
First Step
The first thing you will need to know is how to gain admission into a physician assistant training program. There are some prerequisites that you will have to complete first and that is generally a four year course of study where you have gained your Bachelor's degree with 8 hours of human anatomy and physiology. While there are many schools that can give you the educational foundation you need you should take care to find out which ones are accepted by the physician assistant program you wish to attend. Accreditation is important so be sure that you do not waste your time.
Step Two
If you are truly serious in your quest at becoming a physician assistant you should learn everything you can about what is involved with this burgeoning career option. One of the prerequisites to getting into a quality program is that you shadow a number of already working physician assistants that are willing to let you see what they do during their typical working days. Programs require from 50 to 200 hours in such activities.
Step Three
You will also have to get some references from professionals who know you and are willing to tell the physician assistant program what your qualifications are for entering their program. These references should come from medical professionals such as other physician assistant practitioners or a medical doctor. You can also ask one of your professors to write a recommendation for you.
Fourth Step
The GRE is another thing that you should learn about because you will have to be able to pass it. You should be studying at least one of the types of questions every day that will appear on this test. Likewise you will want to learn the vocabulary that is used in the profession you will become part of.
Step Five
One more thing you will have to learn about becoming a physician assistant is that you should get your application in early. You will find that you will be rewarded for doing this with lower fees as well as getting to enter the interviewing process earlier. Turning in your CASPA essay will also reap some rewards.
Sixth Step
Get serious about preparations for the interview. Figure out what questions you are going to be asked and determine what your answers will be. One of them will likely be what led you to want to become a physician assistant as well as why you want to be part of the program they offer.
Step Seven
The interview is important so be sure to dress appropriately for the situation. Conservative attire is always best.
Saturday 3 March 2012
Physician Assistant Interview Questions
Prospective students wishing to enter Physician Assistant training programs must go through an extensive interview process After reviewing the applications of numerous would be students, a short list if created and those applicants are contacted to come in for an interview. It can be tough getting through the Physician Assistant interview questions, but you should answer them honestly.
The following will help you as you prepared for those questions.
1. You have to know that the interview process counts big time if you are going to be accepted into the program. The scores on your tests may be excellent, your education and experience impeccable, and your essays have shown your particular flare, but it is the interview which will provide the school with a better idea of who you are. It is important that you be able to demonstrate your compassion, practicality, understanding, honesty, maturity, and confidence. This is better demonstrated through an in person interview.
2. The interview process is intended to help find out if you are an effective communicator. Because you will soon be working with patients and doctors in a number of different settings, you must be able to focus, remain polite, be sharp and capable of communicating regardless of where you are working.
Interview Process
Interviews typically begin with the financial aid officer as well as the director of the program speaking with you in a group setting. Afterward, applicants will be asked a series of Physician Assistant Interview Questions. At this point, the group is split in two with one group proceeding to the interview while the rest are allowed to become part of a class of first year students. Here your behavior will be closely monitored to determine whether you will fit well with the program.
Physician Assistant Interview Questions
Here are some of the top questions you may have to answer during your interview.
1. How has your academic success prepared you for entering this healthcare profession? To answer this question, you should be able to let them see how you have managed to get through the academic process. You may want to let the interviewer know how here that you were able to do some volunteer work as well as work part-time. You have to demonstrate that you can multi-task and manage your time well.
2. What are some important problems that you feel are facing the healthcare system today? This is where you get to show that you are watching and listening to the concerns within your targeted industry. This question is not just about rote memorization of things you have read, but more about your studied knowledge about the healthcare system.
3. What is it that inspires you to wish to become a Physician Assistant This is a very important question for your future, and must be answered honestly and with feeling. A question may also be put to you about why you did not choose to train as a Nurse Practitioner.
4. Has any patient of yours deeply affected your desire to further your education? This question will provide you with the opportunity to show your compassionate side and your style of communication.
This small snippet of possible Physician Assistant Interview Questions can help you to be better prepared for the interview when it takes place.
The following will help you as you prepared for those questions.
1. You have to know that the interview process counts big time if you are going to be accepted into the program. The scores on your tests may be excellent, your education and experience impeccable, and your essays have shown your particular flare, but it is the interview which will provide the school with a better idea of who you are. It is important that you be able to demonstrate your compassion, practicality, understanding, honesty, maturity, and confidence. This is better demonstrated through an in person interview.
2. The interview process is intended to help find out if you are an effective communicator. Because you will soon be working with patients and doctors in a number of different settings, you must be able to focus, remain polite, be sharp and capable of communicating regardless of where you are working.
Interview Process
Interviews typically begin with the financial aid officer as well as the director of the program speaking with you in a group setting. Afterward, applicants will be asked a series of Physician Assistant Interview Questions. At this point, the group is split in two with one group proceeding to the interview while the rest are allowed to become part of a class of first year students. Here your behavior will be closely monitored to determine whether you will fit well with the program.
Physician Assistant Interview Questions
Here are some of the top questions you may have to answer during your interview.
1. How has your academic success prepared you for entering this healthcare profession? To answer this question, you should be able to let them see how you have managed to get through the academic process. You may want to let the interviewer know how here that you were able to do some volunteer work as well as work part-time. You have to demonstrate that you can multi-task and manage your time well.
2. What are some important problems that you feel are facing the healthcare system today? This is where you get to show that you are watching and listening to the concerns within your targeted industry. This question is not just about rote memorization of things you have read, but more about your studied knowledge about the healthcare system.
3. What is it that inspires you to wish to become a Physician Assistant This is a very important question for your future, and must be answered honestly and with feeling. A question may also be put to you about why you did not choose to train as a Nurse Practitioner.
4. Has any patient of yours deeply affected your desire to further your education? This question will provide you with the opportunity to show your compassionate side and your style of communication.
This small snippet of possible Physician Assistant Interview Questions can help you to be better prepared for the interview when it takes place.
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